GAB vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
GAB is managed by Gabelli Funds. It was launched on Aug 21, 1986. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Performance
GAB vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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GAB vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAB The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc | -5.84% | 27.03% | 18.05% | 3.37% | -16.30% | 28.26% | 14.70% | 31.62% | -8.77% | 24.66% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -4.37% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GAB achieves a -5.84% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's -4.37% return. Over the past 10 years, GAB has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.50%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 13.98% annualized return.
GAB
- 1D
- 2.19%
- 1M
- -6.00%
- YTD
- -5.84%
- 6M
- -2.23%
- 1Y
- 13.59%
- 3Y*
- 10.70%
- 5Y*
- 6.95%
- 10Y*
- 11.50%
SPY
- 1D
- 2.91%
- 1M
- -4.94%
- YTD
- -4.37%
- 6M
- -1.82%
- 1Y
- 17.59%
- 3Y*
- 18.19%
- 5Y*
- 11.69%
- 10Y*
- 13.98%
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GAB vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
GAB has a 0.01% expense ratio, which is lower than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
GAB vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
GAB
SPY
GAB vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| GAB | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.80 | 0.93 | -0.12 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.23 | 1.45 | -0.22 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.22 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.28 | 1.53 | -0.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.05 | 7.30 | -3.25 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GAB | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.80 | 0.93 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 | 0.69 | -0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.78 | -0.25 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.56 | -0.23 |
Correlation
The correlation between GAB and SPY is 0.56, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
GAB vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
GAB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.63%, more than SPY's 1.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAB The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc | 10.63% | 9.72% | 11.15% | 11.81% | 10.95% | 8.72% | 9.57% | 9.85% | 12.55% | 9.80% | 10.87% | 12.05% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.14% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
GAB vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GAB drawdown since its inception was -74.62%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GAB and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| GAB | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.62% | -55.19% | -19.43% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.75% | -12.05% | +1.30% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.60% | -24.50% | -2.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.92% | -33.72% | -13.20% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.66% | -6.24% | -2.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.66% | -9.09% | -1.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.41% | 2.52% | +0.89% |
Volatility
GAB vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc (GAB) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 5.08% and 5.31%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| GAB | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.08% | 5.31% | -0.23% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.14% | 9.47% | +0.67% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.96% | 19.05% | -2.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.23% | 17.06% | +1.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.85% | 17.92% | +3.93% |